Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Happy birds---Red-whiskered Bulbuls enjoying papayas

The papayas in my garden are ripening again. Once they are ripe, the papayas are soft enough for the birds to peck through. Since the papayas are very sweet, they are the favourite food of the local birds such as Magpies and Red-whiskered Bulbuls.

Recently, my papaya trees have been attracting dozens of Red-whiskered Bulbuls. They have been having a very good time in the garden lately and it is a joy to watch.

Eating papayas is not an easy job for the birds because the fruit grows on the tree trunk. So there is not much that the birds can stand on. Occasionally, they can find a dead leaf stem close enough to a papaya.

Most of the time, the dead leaf stem is either too far away or there is nothing to hang on to. That is when the fun begins. However, no matter how difficult the situation is, these clever birds can always find a way to get the papayas.

The most fascinating moment is when they try to eat papayas in the air.

Being over 30g in weight and 20cm long, it is almost an impossible thing to do. But it does not stop them from trying. I guess the papayas must be too delicious for them togive up.